What Residents Need to Know Right Now
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Active Alerts
• Winter Storm Warning: in effect until 12:00 PM Sunday, January 25
• Extreme Cold Warning: from 6:00 PM Saturday, January 24 to 9:00 AM Tuesday, January 27
What to Expect
• Periods of sleet and freezing rain, with some snow and sleet mixed in. Roads and bridges will be hazardous, especially overnight and early in the morning.
• Local streets can ice over faster and stay icy longer than major highways, especially shaded areas, bridges, and rural connectors.
• Dangerous cold is expected behind the storm. High temperatures are forecast to stay below freezing through Monday, January 26, with subfreezing nights continuing beyond that.
• Black ice risk increases after precipitation ends, especially overnight as temperatures continue dropping.
What This Means for You
• Avoid unnecessary travel. If you must drive, slow down and assume bridges and overpasses are icy even if they appear clear.
• Be prepared for possible delays, limited services, or short-term disruptions if conditions worsen.
Protect Pipes
• Wrap exposed outdoor and garage pipes
• Open cabinet doors on exterior walls so warm air can circulate
• If you drip faucets, a pencil-thin stream is enough
Garage plumbing and plumbing along exterior walls are among the most common freeze failure points.
Bring Pets Indoors
Pets should be brought indoors during the coldest conditions.
Check on Neighbors
Check on:
• elderly neighbors
• people living alone
• anyone without reliable heat
This is especially important overnight and early in the morning.
Power and Water Considerations
• Extended subfreezing temperatures increase the chance of localized power interruptions, especially during peak overnight demand.
• Water line breaks often happen during the thaw, not only during the freeze, so precautions should remain in place even after roads improve.
City Resources
Warming Shelter
Steve and Judy Deffibaugh Community Center
416 N. 4th Street
• Opened at 7:00 AM Saturday, January 24
• Will remain open while freezing conditions persist
• Available to anyone without reliable heat
Neighbors helping neighbors may be especially important for residents without transportation.
Official city information is available through the City of Princeton’s 2026 Winter Storm page and other official city channels.
Bottom Line
This is not a panic situation, but it is a serious ice and cold risk.
Some of the most dangerous conditions can arrive after the precipitation stops.
Even a small amount of ice can cause crashes, power outages, and pipe damage. A little preparation now can prevent bigger problems later.
Follow The Princeton Journal and official City of Princeton channels for verified updates.
